WATERTOWN, NY; August 29, 2022 – Known as the “People’s Princess”, Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales, was a global icon and humanitarian whose untimely death at age 36 shocked the world. When she married Prince Charles in 1981, in a fairytale ceremony watched by millions, Lady Diana Spencer became the first Englishwoman to marry an heir to the throne in more than 300 years. Diana’s marriage to Charles, which produced two sons and heirs to the throne, ended in divorce. Diana was greatly admired as a lifelong advocate for children, efforts to abolish the use of land mines, and for her championing of AIDS-related causes, changing the public perception of those afflicted by the disease. She is also credited with modernizing the institution of the monarchy and how it relates to the British public.
The death of Princess Diana on August 31st, 1997 was immediately followed by an unprecedented outpouring of grief from all over the world. Five days later, an estimated one million people lined the funeral route to Westminster Abbey, where her funeral was held.
To mark the 25th anniversary of the death of Princess Diana, WPBS is presenting two documentaries on the evening of Wednesday, August 31st:
8:00 PM – Princess Diana: Who Do You Think She Was
We know how the story of Princess Diana ends. But how did it all begin? Who was Diana before the palace, before the paparazzi? Behind the modern legend that is ‘Diana, Princess of Wales’ lie many other stories — in her childhood and in her family’s past as Spencers.
9:00 PM – In Their Own Words: Princess Diana
Meet those closest to Princess Diana and follow her story as she grew from a shy, aristocratic schoolgirl into a dynamic force for change. This is a journey from the inside of her life, and the story of a woman who defied expectations and evolved into one of the most impactful icons of our time.
About WPBS
WPBS is a PBS station serving approximately 650,000 households throughout Northern New York and Eastern Ontario via cable, satellite, Internet and over-the-air distribution. WPBS is a non-profit organization whose mission is to educate, inform, and engage its two-nation region with exceptional and trusted content across multiple platforms. Its vision is to be the premier provider of extraordinary public media that instills wonder and curiosity across generations and borders.
More information about WPBS, including a full channel listing, is available at wpbstv.org, or by following WPBS on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
